According to reports in The Sun, Newcastle United are interested in out of favour FC Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas, but they could face competition for his signature from Premier League rivals Liverpool.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Sun says the former Real Madrid stopper has become frustrated after finding himself on the substitutes’ bench in recent weeks with Jose Sa preferred between the sticks.
The Spain international took to his Instagram account to reveal his disappointment after he was dropped for the Champions League clash against Red Bull Leipzig earlier this month, and a move away could be on the cards in the New Year.
The Sun adds that while some have suggested that he has been left out for using his mobile phone during training, Porto manager Sergio Conceicao has insisted the decision has been made for tactical reasons.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez was known to be keen to sign a new goalkeeper during the summer transfer window and was linked with a move for Pepe Reina, and the rumour with Casillas now suggests that he may still be looking for one.
Do Newcastle need a new goalkeeper?
Considering Rob Elliot has been such good form this season and the fact that they have Karl Darlow in reserve you would think not, but if Benitez wants a keeper that is experienced at the highest level then there won’t be many better options on the market than Casillas.
The future potential takeover should give the Magpies more clout in the transfer market, and while he may be getting on a bit now bringing the 36-year-old to St James’ Park would certainly be a huge statement of intent, and a signing that would excite the St James’ Park faithful.
Would Casillas be a good signing?
He certainly would be.
Aside from the experience he brings, you aren’t Real Madrid’s number one goalkeeper for so long if you aren’t world class, and while things may not be going for him at Porto right now there is no doubt that he would be a huge upgrade on Elliot, despite how well the Republic of Ireland international has performed in the Premier League this season.
However, a move to Liverpool could be more tempting for Casillas if the Reds are geninuely keen and will offer him a guaranteed start.
There has been a quick turnaround at West Ham United, with David Moyes replacing manager Slaven Bilic.
The former Everton and Manchester United coach was brought in on Tuesday, just one day after the East London outfit parted company with Bilic.
The writing was on the wall for the Croatian given that he had guided the Hammers to just two wins in 11 Premier League games.
The final nail in the coffin was on Saturday when his team lost 4-1 to Liverpool at the London Stadium – their sixth league defeat of the campaign.
Moyes has now taken the reins, but early indications suggest that he will have to win over plenty of fans.
The Scotsman arrives at the Hammers with a recent CV of failure having not spent more than a year at a club since leaving Everton in 2013.
Moyes was Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United, but he was unable to make his mark and went on to have spells in charge of Real Sociedad and Sunderland, who were relegated from the top flight under his management last season.
Former footballer Adam Virgo, who previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion, took aim at West Ham’s chairmen and board for not going for a manager already in work.
The pundit used Simone Zaza’s failed spell at the London Stadium as an example.
According to reports in The Independent on Wednesday, Everton are said to have given up hope of persuading Watford to part with Marco Silva as they continue their search for Ronald Koeman’s successor, but you still get the feeling that the saga may not be over just yet.
The Independent says that the Merseyside outfit were willing to offer in excess of £10m in compensation for the impressive 40-year-old, who has no buy-out clause in the contract he signed in the summer, but the Hornets aren’t willing to budge as they don’t want to lose the Portuguese boss halfway through the season.
However, Silva’s refusal to talk about the subject in his pre-match press conference for the trip to Newcastle United this weekend will only add to the rumours that a potential deal may not be dead just yet.
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It is a situation that has left majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright with something of a big conundrum more than four weeks after they sacked Ronald Koeman.
It has certainly been a frustrating period for both them and the supporters with Everton still struggling in 16th position in the table, with performances on the pitch not really improving too much under caretaker boss David Unsworth despite a remarkable turnaround to beat Silva’s men 3-2 at Goodison Park earlier this month.
While it seems the only way they could get the former Hull City chief now is if he resigns, perhaps they should consider making Watford an offer they simply couldn’t refuse.
Moshiri certainly showed throughout the summer transfer window that he has the financial clout to take Everton to the next level with the big-money signings of the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Michael Keane, Jordan Pickford and Davy Klaassen, and maybe not it is worth making a similar investment in a new manager.
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The Merseyside outfit are clearly desperate to appoint Silva, who has drawn comparisons to national compatriot Jose Mourinho despite being in the still early stages of his Premier League career, and they should act to get him rather than potentially wait until the end of the campaign when he could easily go elsewhere.
The 40-year-old has proven with Watford and Hull previously that he is generally adept tactically and can get the best out of his players, and he has certainly masterminded some impressive performances and results even if he couldn’t save the Tigers from relegation last term.
Silva looks to have a bright future and there is no doubt that managers have become such an important factor for clubs in the modern era – maybe even more so than the players in some cases – and the fact that five Premier League bosses have already gone this season show just how accountable they can be.
If Everton are willing to spend £45m on Sigurdsson, why shouldn’t they bid £20m or £25m to bring Silva to Goodison Park? After all, he could be their boss for the next 10 years if he is given time to be part of the project that will slowly come together.
With the astronomical fees that are being bandied about for new players – in 2017 especially – it shouldn’t now be unacceptable to offer similar amounts for a new manager – especially if he is your first-choice option.
Silva has never ruled himself out of the running either, and he would surely relish the opportunity to work with better quality players – with all due respect to Watford – and a bigger transfer budget.
If Everton want to move forward and challenge the best teams in the Premier League they have to be decisive, prove their ambition and take some risks, and offering Watford an amount of money that they won’t turn down for the Portuguese boss in order to get their man is the next step in that journey.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, clubs up and down the country will be mulling over their targets and budget.
ESPN pundit Craig Burley believes that Newcastle United need a boost in the attacking department and has suggested that they move for Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge.
The forward has been plagued by injury problems over the years, which has severely affected his playing time, but even though he has been fit for the majority of this season, the England international has failed to cement a regular place in the team under manager Jurgen Klopp.
So far in the campaign, Sturridge has started just five Premier League games and has made a further nine outings in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing as many assists in total.
Newcastle have managed to find the back of the net only 16 times in the top flight, with the likes of Joselu and Dwight Gayle struggling for consistency.
Burley believes that Sturridge could potentially thrive under Magpies boss Rafael Benitez, but has described the move as a risk.
The pundit told ESPN:
“There’s a connection there with Rafa Benitez, I think Liverpool need to get some money for him, get him out. It’s whether Newcastle, with potential new owners, want to take some sort of chance on his fitness and play him with one of those contracts that’s incentivised in terms of games. He could’ve been worth £40 million or £50 million for Liverpool if he played 40 games, but he doesn’t.”
Newcastle have dropped into the relegation zone following nine games without a win.
Huddersfield fans in the Transfer Tavern are excited for another season of Premier League football after securing safety in the division during their debut campaign.
David Wagner’s side ended the season in 16th place and received plenty of plaudits for their performances throughout the campaign. They earned a historic 2-1 victory over Manchester United back in October which will live long in the memories of the Terriers’ faithful. A 1-1 draw against Chelsea guaranteed them Premier League safety.
Staying up was crucial to their transfer plans with the club now able to benefit from the lucrative television deals. Given the strength of the promoted clubs, survival will be even more difficult next year. Therefore, it’s vital that Wagner strengthens his squad in the summer window.
Adding goals will be a priority with Steve Mounie ending the season as top goal scorer with only seven strikes. The perfect man to add some much-needed firepower could be Leicester City forward – Ahmed Musa. Valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, the Nigerian forward spent the last half of the season on loan at CSKA Moscow.
He scored six goals and notched three assists in just ten appearances back in Russia, highlighting the quality he has been unable to show with the Foxes. His form continued at the World Cup, scoring two goals in three appearances as Nigeria were knocked out at the group stage. Despite his struggles at Leicester, Musa could thrive at Huddersfield.
Blessed with electrifying pace, the 25-year-old could benefit from playing alongside Mounie in the Terriers attack. Musa is also capable of playing out wide, making him a valuable option for Wagner. With Musa on one wing and Ramadan Sobhi on the other, they have the perfect recipe to survive.
According to reports in The Liverpool Echo on July 5, Liverpool are understood to have ruled out youngster Harry Wilson joining Celtic on loan this summer, and Brendan Rodgers should switch his attentions to a familiar face in Nathan Dyer instead.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Bhoys boss Rodgers was understood to be keen to bring the winger to Celtic Park to boost his attacking options ahead of the new Scottish Premiership campaign, but The Liverpool Echo says that the Reds aren’t willing to do business with their former manager.
The Liverpool Echo says that the Merseyside outfit and Jurgen Klopp are unimpressed with the lack of game time players like Patrick Roberts and Charly Musonda have had for the champions following loan moves from Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, and they are worried that the same thing could happen to Wilson.
The 21-year-old wideman spent the second-half of the 2017/18 campaign on loan with Championship side Hull City, where he scored seven goals and provided a further four assists in 13 league games.
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Why should Rodgers turn his attentions to Dyer?
Well, while Dyer, rated at £2.25m by Transfermarkt, might turn 31 years of age later this year, he has proven that he still has the pace and trickery to cause opposition full-backs plenty of problems.
Rodgers, who has two huge signings to make and one major exit to sanction as a priority, worked with the 2016 Premier League title winner during his time in charge at Swansea, and he was certainly a favourite under the Northern Irishman given he made 88 appearances and scored eight goals in the two seasons the 45-year-old found himself at the Liberty Stadium.
Given the south Wales club have just been relegated to the Championship, the attacker may well be available for a decent fee and Rodgers should look to swoop in, seeing as he knows exactly what he is going to get – as he did with Scott Sinclair.
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New Arsenal boss Unai Emery has stated that Mesut Ozil is a very important player for the club, as reported in The Guardian.
The 29-year-old attacking midfielder has been much maligned in the German press following his and his country’s poor performance at the World Cup which saw them eliminated at the Group Stage.
Ozil has also been a scapegoat for many Arsene Wenger performances and he was criticised for often going missing in big matches.
The German had his joint lowest goal return since joining Arsenal last season, scoring just four times for the Gunners.
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However, it appears Wenger’s successor is keen to include the creator in his Arsenal plans, as Emery stressed that he was a very important player for the Gunners and he wants him to come back with a good mentality after a break.
Arsenal fans have been reacting to Emery’s comments on social media and here’s a snapshot of what they’ve had to say about the former Real Madrid man rediscovering his best form.
Newcastle have been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Divock Origi, but they’d much be much better served swooping for his compatriot Michy Batshuayi, who is being tipped to leave Chelsea on loan this summer.
What’s the story?
According to The Mirror, Everton want to take one of either Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Batshuayi on loan from Chelsea.
The report claims Toffees boss Marco Silva will ask Maurizio Sarri about the availability of both players, with Premier League rules stipulating they can only take one of them on a loan deal.
Silva needs more firepower up front, as right now the his side are pretty much relying on Cenk Tosun to score all of their goals.
Newcastle have themselves been linked with a Belgian striker though – Liverpool’s Origi. The youngster spent last season on loan with Wolfsburg, and was a target for the Magpies last summer.
Rafael Benitez is desperate for a new front man this summer, but Origi is not the calibre of player required to carry the goalscoring load. If Batshuayi is available on loan, the Magpies should be all over it, and he would be a much better signing than Origi.
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The next Drogba?
Batshuayi earned his big move to Marseille in 2014 after averaging more than a goal every three games for Standard Liege in Belgium, and it was only up from there. The pacey youngster grabbed 26 goals in 62 Ligue 1 appearances for the French side, and joined Chelsea for around £33m in the summer of 2016.
The 24 year-old, valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, never really got a chance at Stamford Bridge though, making just 20 league appearances in his first season in England, with most of those coming from the bench.
He showed exactly what he can do earlier this year, when the Blues sent him on loan to Borussia Dortmund. In nine Bundesliga starts, he scored seven times, averaging three shots per game. Basically, give this young man a bit of playing time and confidence and he is lethal.
Likened to Didier Drogba when he broke out at Marseille due to his combination of strength, speed and clinical finishing, the 24 year-old is better than Origi is virtually every facet of the game, and just needs a bit of a push in the right direction to get his career started again.
We all know Mike Ashley would love to wrap up all his summer deals on loan, so if the Blues are open to loaning the Belgian out again then the Magpies would be foolish not to join Everton in the race.
So, Newcastle fans, which striker would you prefer? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…
Loads of Tottenham fans have been discussing their attacking targets for the summer, and a whopping 76 per cent of fans want to sign Chelsea target Leon Bailey.
According to The Evening Standard, Chelsea will battle it out with Roma to sign Jamaican youth star Bailey.
The 20 year-old’s agent and father spoke about a potential move, calling Roma’s interest an honour that they must listen to.
It definitely sounds like he fancies a move to a big club, and Maurizio Sarri will be hoping he can have a similar impact in London that he did when he arrived at Bayer Leverkusen, scoring 12 times and adding six assists in his first Bundesliga season.
The Blues were uninspiring to say the least last season, and signing a young, pacey winger to light up their attack would certainly liven things up a bit.
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Tottenham could soon be on the lookout for the youngster though, as it looks like their move for Jack Grealish has fallen through.
Daniel Levy was making Aston Villa sweat over a move for Grealish, but new investment for the Championship club has damaged Levy’s leverage.
While they aren’t like for like players, Tottenham will need an exciting young addition to keep the fans happy if they do indeed miss out on Grealish, and over three quarters of fans think they should hijack Chelsea’s Bailey chase.
Leeds fans have been discussing making a shock swoop for rival star Fernando Forestieri, and over three quarters of fans think they should capitalise on the Owls’ difficult summer.
A recent report from HITC claimed Swansea are eyeing what would surely be a big-money swoop for Forestieri.
According to the report, Sheffield Wednesday’s quest to trim their wage bill has left question marks over their talisman’s future.
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It’s no secret that Owls’ boss Jos Luhukay needs to sell before he can buy, and Forestieri would fetch a fee big enough to give the manager some real money to spend.
Leeds fans are clearly hoping they can hijack the move, as a whopping 77 per cent of fans backed a shock swoop.
The 28 year-old, who has scored 32 Championship goals at Hillsborough, could be the perfect “second striker” in Marcelo Bielsa’s 3-3-3-1 system, and possibly an alternative to the heavily linked Matej Vydra.
You can find the full poll results down below, and this move would certainly shake things up in Yorkshire…